The lack of diversity is “embarrassing,” says Chenault, who's retiring after 17 years as AmEx's CEO.

Kenneth Chenault, the longtime chairman and CEO of American Express, is retiring from the company and offered a few ideas to the Associated Press on how Fortune 500 companies could fill the void of top African American executives.

“Company boards and management have to say: ‘diversity and inclusion is a core priority, and it’s not a flavor of the month,” said Chenault, whose departure from AmEx leaves just three Black CEOs in corporate America.

“It’s not something we’re just going to try for a year or two. We’re going to keep at it until we get it right.’ And I think we need that level of intensity and focus,” he continued.

There’s more. Airbnb's community is built on trust and trust serves as the infrastructure in a 21st-century company. So on behalf of our community, I am proud to welcome the leader of one of the world’s most trusted companies, American Express CEO Ken Chenault, to Airbnb’s Board. pic.twitter.com/G4rcplsbFU

The lack of diversity is “embarrassing,” added Chenault, who was recently tagged by Airbnb and Facebook to join their boards. Thousands of qualified African Americans are not getting the opportunity to lead top companies. It’s not that complicated, he underscored. First, the corporate community must develop a pipeline. Once talented candidates come in the door, companies have to create an environment where Black executives are not just tolerated but embraced.

“You need to, in fact, develop people strategies just as you do for business strategies. And you need to put metrics in place, and hold people accountable for making progress,” he added.

The lack of diversity at the top of Fortune 500 companies is indeed shameful. About 73 percent of Whites hold senior executive positions, according to Fortune. Asians represent 21 percent of business leaders, while Latinos and Blacks hold just 3 percent and 2 percent of those positions respectively.

All Of The Black People In Media Omarosa Attacked

Omarosa made her small screen debut in 2004 on "The Apprentice." Since then, she has been one of the most vicious villains on reality television—and now, after more than 15 years in front of the camera, she has become the queen of the sunken place. Much of the former White House staffer's career has been focused on demeaning her own community and, until recently, defending our racist president.
Now she has a book, "Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House" and appears to be attempting to get in the good graces of the community she has disrespected for years. Just yesterday, she had a meltdown on Sirius XM Urban View, attacking yet another Black journalist.
See Omarosa's long history of berating Black people in media.